EquipCast

Episode 75: Nazareth Groups - Small Group Communities in Your Parish

Episode  |  January 25th, 2022  |  41 mins 7 secs

Do you ever feel like a stranger in your own parish community? The larger our parishes grow, the harder it can be to feel known.

If our goal is to continue to bring people to Jesus, and thus, to grow our parishes, we have to start asking, "What's next? What does my parish provide for people after they encounter Jesus?"

There are many things that a growing disciples needs to encourage them in the faith, but I think the one we forget most often is fellowship (Acts 2:42).

So, today I introduce to you Nazareth Groups, a monthly small group community that provides a home within the larger parish community.

Skill Demo 7: Four Benefits of a Clear Path

Episode  |  January 18th, 2022  |  13 mins 11 secs

If you have been listening to the EquipCast for a while, you know that the Clear Path to Discipleship is one of the Key Characteristics of a Missional Church. Even though I've talked about this characteristic a lot, I still find that there are misconceptions about it.

So I ask Andy Dejka, one of the Coaches on the Parish Support Team, to break it down in 10 minutes. (Well, actually it took him 13, but I promise the extra 3 minutes are worth it!)

Episode 74: Grow as You Go!

Episode  |  January 11th, 2022  |  38 mins 36 secs

Adam Ybarra was far from the prefect evangelist when, as a newly initiated FOCUS missionary, he inherited Curtis Martin's bible study group. In fact, much of his personal story involves being "under construction" while still being an instrument for the Lord.

Today, I set out to talk with Adam about the Habit of Invitation, but what I got instead was so much more.

While he does walk us through the do's and don'ts of inviting other people to the faith, what Adam really tells us is: It's okay to grow as you go.

Skill Demo 6: How to Use the Method of Mentorship

Episode  |  December 14th, 2021  |  9 mins 32 secs

If the title of our podcast, the EquipCast, wasn’t obvious enough, I think it is incredibly important to equip lay people as leaders for mission. But have you ever tried to teach someone a new skill and had them fall flat on their face? You may even have thought that person had great potential only to be disappointed. Oftentimes, it’s not the lack of potential or enthusiasm that was a fault. It’s the lack of accompaniment. Today’s Skill Demo teaches the Method of Mentorship.

Episode 73: Occasions for Invitation

Episode  |  November 30th, 2021  |  53 mins 46 secs

It's not popular to be Christian. And I don't know about you, but sometimes that makes it hard for me to be vulnerable. Sharing my beliefs and inviting others into my very Christian life takes some holy boldness...some courage. So, today is our third deep-dive into one of the habits form the 2021 Pastoral Conference: Invitation. Pat Dempsey walks us through the ways he finds occasions for invitation.

Episode 72: Pray Like a Missionary Disciple

Episode  |  November 23rd, 2021  |  42 mins 27 secs

I feel like God is constantly calling me to a deeper level of reliance on Him. As I seek to grow as a missionary disciple, so often, I think "I don't know what I'm doing!" And so, what does a missionary disciple do when they want to do the will of God but they don't feel entirely ready? Pray! Be in conversation with Jesus. Again, I want to bring you into a deeper conversation with one of our guests from the 2021 Pastoral Conference. Jessi Kary provides examples of how a missionary disciple prays, and just gives some really practical advice!

Episode 71: A Ministry of Friendship

Episode  |  November 16th, 2021  |  49 mins 20 secs

Recently, the Archbishop hosted the 2021 Pastoral Conference. There he commissioned us, the people that he shepherds, to live out four habits of discipleship: Prayer, Compassion, Friendship, and Invitation. Today, I want to do a deep-dive with you on one of those habits: Friendship. What can a ministry of Friendship look like? Does it have to be complicated, or can it be simple, clear, and easy? Continue the Conversation to hear from about one of the friendships highlighted at the Pastoral Conference.

Episode 70: The Black Catholic Experience

Episode  |  November 9th, 2021  |  43 mins 21 secs

I don't know if you have ever had the chance to visit St. Benedict the Moor. It's a very unassuming parish in North Omaha, but it has the distinct honor of being the only Black Catholic parish in all of Nebraska. When I visited with my family, we were perhaps the only white people in the room, and so it was obvious that we were new. The welcome that we were given was incredible. We were immediately made to feel right at home. Now, I ask you to reverse the situation. What does a black person think about when visiting a predominantly white parish? Their experience of these communities, whether good or bad, will always be imbued with the context that is race relations in America. And so, the deep question is really: What can we do to help race relations in the Archdiocese of Omaha? My guests today give some insight into their experience, and they offer a very simple answer to the question above... Pray, be friendly and come visit! 9am Sundays at St. Benedict the Moor.

Episode 69: The Art of Small Groups

Episode  |  October 19th, 2021  |  43 mins 54 secs

I've noticed a trend over the past few years. People who are hungry for a vibrant parish community are consistently discerning themselves into small groups. There really is something about a small group that helps people to encounter the Lord in a powerful way and to connect with parishioners on a deeper level. The Holy Spirit is moving His Church toward renewal, and I'm willing to bet that small groups will have a large part in it! Tune in to hear some really practical advice on small groups.

Episode 68: Hormone Genius

Episode  |  October 12th, 2021  |  36 mins 59 secs

In a previous EquipCast episode, we talked about the difference between having a ministry and an apostolate, between working for the Church and living out your own personal call to holiness. Today, I bring you an example of someone who has learned to integrate her faith with her profession. Teresa Kenney works as a Women's Health Practitioner, and she is known for her holistic approach to this often unexplored area of medicine. So, what does a woman's fertility have to do with evangelization? Tune in to hear how Teresa is able to bring her faith and Catholic Church's teachings into the secular world.

Skill Demo 5: How to Prioritize Meeting New People

Episode  |  September 28th, 2021  |  10 mins 5 secs

A Skill Demo about how to meet new people might seem like a incredibly simple subject to tackle. Most of us probably feel like we this one in the bag. But did you know that the average American has not made a new friend in the last five years? And so, now is the moment for Catholics to step into that gap. As we seek to build missional communities, one of the best ways to start is by building relationships.

Episode 67: Parish Renewal (Part 2)

Episode  |  September 21st, 2021  |  38 mins 27 secs

Last week, my guest, Tim Glemkowski, author of Made for Mission, talked to us about the importance of parish renewal. This week, he gets into the nitty-gritty. He talks practically about building a Clear Path to Discipleship in parishes, setting goals, leadership culture, and organizational health.